Chennai: As many as 81.1 per cent smokers in Tamilnadu had easy access to buy cigarettes and 88 per cent tobacco vendors were found selling other products such as candies, cookies, etc., attracting children, according to a study titled ‘Big Tobacco, Tiny Targets’ conducted by New Delhi-based Consumer Voice and Consumers’ Association of India, Chennai.
Sharing the results of the study with media here Tuesday, Consumer Voice advisor – legal and projects, Amarjeet Singh said, “The sale of loose cigarettes is rampant and 88 per cent fail to carry the pictorial warning message.”
“Urgent action required from the government agencies to stop children being targeted around schools. Stricter enforcement of Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) rules prohibiting selling and advertising of tobacco products within 100 yards of educational institutions and regulating tobacco vendors to aid with the enforcement,” Singh added.
The study was undertaken across three cities – Chennai, Coimbatore and Pudukkottai – in 34 schools that was aimed at finding out the strategies used by manufacturers to take tobacco products to school children in violation of law.
“A total of 1.22 lakh kg chewing tobacco products were sized after raiding shops across Tamilnadu; 45 cases have been filed among which five cases have been convicted and a fine of Rs 1.8 lakh was collected,” said State Food Safety and Drug Administration Department Designated Officer, Dr A Ramakrishnan.
The study stated that nearly half of the vendors procuring from multinational companies sell tobacco products around educational institutions.
“Vendors sell cigarettes and bidis via single sticks, making these products cheap and accessible to children and youth,” Consumers’ Association of India, Chennai chairperson Nirmala Desikan said.
Speaking on the measures taken by the government, Ramakrishnan said, “Safe Food at School’ initiative targeting the young population has effectively helped us seize such products. However, the challenge here is that while we seize only a small quantity, the sellers stash up huge quantities elsewhere and continue to sell tobacco.”
Tamilnadu Child Rights chairperson M P Nirmala and Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine Tobacco Control Cell, Nodal Officer, Dr A Somasundaram were present.